TBM Avengers in New Brunswick 1958 to 2012

FPL owned a total of 30 TBM Avengers, but because of crashes offset by purchases, never had any more than a maximum of 25 (D. Henry and C. Dixon of FPL).

A few facts:

First thoughts on using TBMs for aerial spray – 1957-58.

TBMs come from all over N. America – 1958-1970s.

No more US TBMs until 1981/1982 as there were enough in Canada.

FPL begins buying its own TBMs in 1974 as a long-term investment and projected use due to the budworm hazard to New Brunswick forests.

Several lost to crashes.

Fire bombing only after 1993; spray period does not conflict with fire season, and budworm infestation over.

Gradual replacement by AT802s; TBMs are high maintenance compared to AT802s.

FPL sold its last TBM in 2012.

TBM Avengers in New Brunswick 1958 to 2012, based on their Canadian and US registrations. Status is always subject to change.
* = duplicate tail numbers (601, 603, 607, D6).

BuNo

Cdn. Reg’n.

US Reg’n.

Nose/Tail No.

FPL No.

Owners

Status

FA/FB SERIES

53784

FAGL

–

603*

–

Conair

Crashed

86244

FAGN

–

607*

607/7

Conair/FPL

Crashed

53209

FAXS

–

2/B17

–

Norfolk

Crashed

53829

FAYG

–

5/B20

–

Norfolk

Airworthy

86091

FAYL

–

xx

–

Norfolk

Crashed

53078

FBEF/FJJC

N68683

110/A25

–

Hillcrest/Miramichi

Crashed

85983

FBEG

–

01/1

–

Miramichi/Hicks&Lawrence

Airworthy

53914

FBQS

–

xx

–

Hicks&Lawrence

Crashed/Restored/Museum

91171

FBQT

–

21

–

Hicks&Lawrence

Stored

FIMX SERIES

53337

FIMI

–

601*

601/1

Skyway/Conair/FPL

Airworthy

85870

FIMJ

–

600/601*

–

Skyway

Crashed

85597

FIMK

–

602

602/2

Skyway/Conair/FPL

Museum

53507

FIML

–

603*

–

Skyway

Crashed

53241

FIMM

–

604

–

Skyway/Conair

Crashed

53139

FIMN

–

605

605/5

Skyway/Conair/FPL

Airworthy

85833

FIMO

–

508

–

JD Irving

Crashed

53558

FIMQ

–

500

–

Wheeler

Crashed

53610

FIMR

–

501

E25/23

Wheeler/Wheeler-Northland/Evergreen/FPL

Museum

53759

FIMS

–

502

–

Wheeler

Crashed

69347

FIMT

–

503

–

Wheeler

Crashed

69354

FIMU

–

504

–

Wheeler

Junked

85665

FIMV

–

505

26

Wheeler/Wheeler-Northland/Evergreen/FPL

Crashed

85928

FIMW

–

506

–

Wheeler/Wheeler-Northland/Evergreen

Crashed

86098

FIMX

–

507

–

Wheeler/Wheeler-Northland/Evergreen

Crashed

FJ/FK SERIES

86175

FJJB

–

xx

–

Richel Air

Crashed

53554

FKCF

–

614

–

Skyway/Conair

Crashed

69327

FKCG

–

615

–

Skyway/Conair

Crashed/Restored/Museum

53072

FKCH

–

606

–

Skyway/Conair

Crashed

53559

FKCJ

–

607

–

Skyway/Conair

Crashed

53392

FKCK

–

608

–

Skyway/Conair

Crashed

53638

FKCL

–

609

609/9

Skyway/Conair/FPL

Crashed/Restored/Museum

53420

FKCM

–

616

616/16

Skyway/Conair/FPL

Museum

53732

FKCN

–

617

–

Skyway/Conair

Crashed

85652

FKYA

–

701

–

Airspray

Crashed

FM/FX/FZ SERIES

53496

FMSX

–

610

–

Skyway

Crashed

53496

FMSY

–

611

–

Skyway

Crashed

86180

FMUD

–

612

612/12

Skyway/Conair/FPL

Museum

91426

FMUE

–

618

618/18

Skyway/Conair/FPL

Airworthy

53632

FMXN

–

619

–

Skyway/Conair

Crashed

69325

FXOM

–

900/18

–

Maritime/Hicks&Lawrence

Airworthy

85829

FXON

–

911/17

–

Maritime/Hicks&Lawrence

Crashed

53488

FXOO

–

922

–

Maritime

Crashed

53351

FZTA

–

716

–

Miramichi

Crashed

53775a

FZTR

N4173A

A18

–

Hillcrest/Miramichi

Crashed

53775b

FZTS

N7028C

D7/A23

–

Hillcrest/Miramichi

Crashed

53607

FZYC

–

20

–

Hicks&Lawrence/ACAM

Crashed/Restored/Museum

GFPx SERIES

86020

GFPL

–

–

E22/22

FPL

Crashed

53857

GFPM

–

–

E21/21

FPL

Airworthy

91289

GFPN

N7833C

E56/E74

74/17

HemetValley/Hillcrest/FPL

Crashed

86064

GFPO

N7161C

E97/97

97/19

HemetValley/Hillcrest/FPL

Crashed

86090

GFPP

N9434Z

E52

52

HemetValley/Hillcrest/FPL

Crashed

53592

GFPQ

N5168V

E68/68

68/15

HemetValley/Hillcrest/FPL

Crashed

53858

GFPR

N3357G

E72/72

72/4

HemetValley/Hillcrest/FPL

Parked

85460

GFPS

N7032C

112

E32/3

Richardson/Hillcrest/FPL

Airworthy

53787

GFPT

N3969A

A21

E30/10

Johnson/Hillcrest/FPL

Airworthy

GLDX/GLEx/GO SERIES

53768

GLDX

–

B18

–

Norfolk

Airworthy

85715

GLEF

N1369N

E27/27

E27/8

Sis-Q/FPL

Airworthy

53334

GLEG

N68663

E28/E25

E25

Sis-Q/FPL

Crashed

53697

GLEH

N9711Z

E33

E33/20

Sis-Q/FPL

Crashed

53307

GLEI

N9078Z

E26

E26

Sis-Q/FPL

Crashed

69323

GLEJ

N7961C

E24

E24/24

Sis-Q/FPL

Airworthy

85733

GLEK

N6824C

A12

A12/14

Johnson/FPL

Crashed

53200

GLEL

N9010C

D6*/A13

A13/13

Johnson/FPL

Museum

85499

GLEM

N9597C

D6*/A16

A6/6

Johnson/FPL

Crashed

91159

GLEN

N3249G

A14

A14

Johnson/FPL

Crashed

85836

GLEP

N7014C

A11

A11/11

Johnson/FPL

Crashed

85854

GLEQ

N7015C

A7

A7

Johnson/FPL

Crashed

85632

GOBJ

N7002C

B15

–

Air Tankers/Norfolk

Airworthy

69531

GOBK

–

B19

–

Norfolk

Crashed

69361

GOEG

–

B16

–

Norfolk

Museum

USA SERIES

91398

–

N3251G

A15

–

Johnson

Crashed

53835

–

N3967A

xx

–

Stewart

Airworthy?

91565

–

N4168A

D8/58

–

Reeder

Crashed

91521

–

N4171A

D11/11

–

Reeder

Museum

53575

–

N6447C

xx

–

Stewart

Museum

85883

–

N6825C

E37

–

Hemet Valley

Crashed

91110

–

N6827C

xx

–

Stewart

Airworthy

53484

–

N7031C

111

–

Airway

Crashed

53785

–

N7075C

55

–

Reeder

Museum/Airworthy

53726

–

N7076C

56

–

Reeder

Museum

86195

–

N7229C

E71

–

Hemet Valley

Crashed

48032

–

N7922A

xx

–

Skyway

Crashed

69459

–

N8397H

xx

–

Stewart

Museum

91714

–

N9429Z

57

–

Reeder

Airworthy

91586

–

N9433Z

xx

–

Stewart

Museum

1974 – Purchases from Sis-Q and Johnson

FPL purchased its first 11 TBM-3 aircraft in late 1974 (from the 1975 Annual Report and from a file compiled by Carman Dixon of FPL) from Sis-Q Flying Service, Santa Rosa, California and Johnson Flying Service, Missoula, Montana.

1974 – TBM-3 aircraft purchased by FPL. All were registered in the GLEx series, which signifies aircraft originating in the US. Note: There is no record of an Avenger with the mark C-GLEO, the only one missing from the sequence.

Canadian Reg’n.

Bureau Number

FPL Number

US Reg’n.

US Number

Purchase Price $CAN

Purchase Date

Seller

GLEF

85715

E27 / 8

N1369N

E27

15,000 + 8,000 for engine

Dec. 1974

Sis-Q

GLEG

53334

E25

N68663

E28, E25

13,000 + 2,000 for engine

Dec. 1974

Sis-Q

GLEH

53697

E33 / 20

N9711Z

E33

13,000 + 2,000 for engine

Dec. 1974

Sis-Q

GLEI

53307

E26

N9078Z

E26

15,000 + 6,000 for engine

Dec. 1974

Sis-Q

GLEJ

69323

E24 / 24

N7961C

E24

15,000 + 6,210 for spare engine

Dec. 1974

Sis-Q

GLEK

85733

A12 / 14

N6824C

A12

26,820

Nov. 1974

Johnson

GLEL

53200

A13 / 13

N9010C

A13

26,820

Nov. 1974

Johnson

GLEM

85499

A6 / 6

N9597C

D6, A16

26,820

Nov. 1974

Johnson

GLEN

91159

A14

N3249G

A14

26,820

Nov. 1974

Johnson

GLEP

85836

A11 / 11

N7014C

A11

26,820

Nov. 1974

Johnson

GLEQ

85854

A7

N7015C

D7

26,820

Nov. 1974

Johnson

1975 – Purchases

FPL purchased another 2 TBM-3 aircraft in late 1975 (from the 1976 Annual Report and from a file compiled by Carman Dixon of FPL) from Central Air Services, Lewiston, Montana, and D.A. Goodman, Missoula, Montana.

1975 – TBM-3 aircraft purchased by FPL in late 1975 and registered in GFPx series.

Canadian Reg’n.

Bureau Number

FPL Number

US Reg’n.

US Number

Purchase Price $CAN

Purchase Date

Seller

GFPL

86020

E22 / 22

N7157C

63

18,866

Dec. 1975

Goodman

GFPM

53957

E21 / 21

N7017C

A27

25,413

Nov. 1975

Central

1976 – Purchases from Hillcrest and Evergreen

FPL purchased another 9 TBM-3 aircraft in 1976 from Evergreen Air Services, Montreal, Quebec, and Hillcrest Aircraft, Lewiston, Idaho (1976 Annual Report and from a file compiled by Carman Dixon of FPL), continuing the GFP- series.

1976 – TBM-3 aircraft purchased by FPL. All those purchased from the US were registered in GFPx series. The two Canadian-purchased aircraft retained their registration. (FIMR was renumbered as #E25 in 1976, the same number as GLEG, which had crashed in 1975.)

Canadian Reg’n.

Bureau Number

FPL Number

US Reg’n.

US No.

Purchase Price $CAN

Purchase Date

Seller

FIMR

53610

E25 / 23

–

501

30,000

Nov. 1976

Evergreen

FIMV

85665

26

–

505

30,000

Nov. 1976

Evergreen

GFPN

91289

74 / 17

N7833C

E74

35,520 average price

Mar. 1976

Hillcrest

GFPO

86064

97 / 19

N7161C

97

35,520 average price

Mar. 1976

Hillcrest

GFPP

86090

52

N9434Z

E52

35,520 average price

Mar. 1976

Hillcrest

GFPQ

53592

68 / 15

N5168V

68

35,520 average price

Mar. 1976

Hillcrest

GFPR

53858

72 / 4

N3357G

E72

35,520 average price

Mar. 1976

Hillcrest

GFPS

85460

E32 / 3

N7032C

112

35,520 average price

Mar. 1976

Hillcrest

GFPT

53787

E30 / 10

N3969A

A21

35,520 average price

Mar. 1976

Hillcrest

1977 – Purchases from Conair

FPL purchased 8 TBMs from Conair Aviation in August 1977 after they had finished spray operations for that year. Also included was a spare engine and Conair’s complete inventory of TBM parts. These TBMs were equipped with the large hopper doors suitable for dropping retardant or water.